Ohio nursing homes now have access to a new statewide resource designed to strengthen care through education and expert guidance. The Excellence in Clinical & Educational Learning (EXCEL) Academy, launched in August 2024 by Ohio Department of Aging Director Ursel J. McElroy, is open to all facilities at no cost.
EXCEL’s first courses focus on access and quality improvement, covering topics such as medication optimization, infection prevention and control, nutrition, and hospitalization. Additional courses will be added over time to meet the needs of different providers and ensure staff have ongoing opportunities for development.
The academy builds on the success of the Department of Aging’s Regional Rapid Response Assistance Program (R3AP), which was created during the COVID-19 pandemic to deliver urgent, on-site support from clinical experts. R3AP continues to assist facilities today, but its impact also inspired the Governor’s Nursing Home Quality & Accountability Task Force to recommend a broader, more permanent support system — leading to EXCEL.
Nursing homes may now apply to upcoming EXCEL cohorts, including those focused on severe mental illness and infection prevention. More information is available on the Ohio Department of Aging’s EXCEL Academy page, and applications can be submitted through the CareCenter portal.